A/N: This is not the last chapter. Although the next one is. Chapter 46 is kinda more of an epilogue and I'm going to post it in just a moment. Thank you so much, my lovelies, for following on this little journey. I hope you have enjoyed the end as much as the burn! ❤️

Thank you to my endless cheerleaders, you know who you are. For always guilt-tripping, I mean, reminding me to keep at it. Lova ya lol

-0-

Andy lazed in her room until she heard Doug pottering in the kitchen and she rolled out and made her way into the living room.

"Andy, hey," Amira smiled as Andy slipped past Doug, who was still sleeping. She hadn't expected it to be Amira. "My parents are coming to pick me up," she smiled. "They were helping me pay for the apartment but they couldn't get a flight out until this morning. I gave them your address, I hope that's alright."

"Of course," Andy shrugged. "Whatever you need."

"Doug's been kind to me," she said quietly as the man stirred. "When Ali died, I didn't know what we were going to do, my parents helped but Doug made sure we always had whatever we needed."

"He's a good man," Andy nodded. "I'm sorry about your partner."

"It happened just before Mali was born. Car accident."

"Gosh. And now this. You've been through it!"

"Yes," she frowned. "And now I must ask my parents to find another place. I don't want to stop going to school."

"What are you studying?"

"Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering."

"Wow!" Andy blinked. "I think you'd get on well with Cassidy, Miranda's eldest. She loves space. Always has."

"Maybe once we're all settled again, we can visit?"

"We'd love that," Andy smiled.

Amira's phone pinged and she tapped out a reply before looking back up at Andy.

"My parents are here."

"I'll wake Doug," Andy smiled. "Let me know if you need any help?"

"I'll be fine. I don't have much."

Andy watched her go and went and sat beside Doug on the futon.

"Hey," she said as he blinked awake. "Amira's leaving. Her parents are here."

"Oh, shit. Hang on."

"I'm sorry Doug," Amira whispered as he sat up.

"Why," he shrugged, typing to smooth his hair. "I mean, as long as you're okay."

"We'll be fine. We'll keep in touch."

"Definitely, you have my number," he smiled. "Take care. See you around Malik!"

The baby gurgled as Doug poked his little belly and then in a flurry of movement, they were gone.

"Is she okay?"

"She's been through a lot," Doug shrugged. "Like I said, I looked out for them, but I don't know them."

"I get it."

They sat quietly until he yawned widely.

"You got any coffee in this swanky place?"

"Do I have coffee," she snorted. "Do you think I could be in love with Miranda Priestly and not have coffee?"

"Love, ey," Doug grinned as he got up.

"Yeah Dougy, love," she shrugged, picked at the back of the sofa. "It wasn't that I didn't think you'd approve. It was just -"

"You were oblivious and craved the time you had with her even though you didn't know why?" Doug laughed, nudging her a little. "Yeah, I can totally see that."

Andy punched him gently in the arm and made them both a coffee while Doug sat at the breakfast bar.

"So when do I meet the kids?"

"You can meet them today if you like? I promised Caroline I'd go climbing with her - we do that on the weekends while soccer is in the offseason. Cassidy is the soccer queen. She got offered a scholarship to Georgetown."

"No way! That's epic."

"Yeah," Andy chuckled. "Kinda proud of her."

"You love them as much as you love Miranda, don't you?" he asked gently.

She paused, though she found she didn't need to think too hard about it.

"I really do," she blushed. "It started out as trying to give Miranda time with them. Together, or one on one. She didn't have a lot of time, you see, so I tried to give her time where there was none before. And then," she shrugged. "It just became us. The four of us. We went places together, we did things together. She even sat in the climbing gym while we scaled the walls." She shook her head at herself. "I should have known."

"Well now you definitely do," Doug smiled. "And I don't want to even think about yesterday so why don't you take me climbing, boo?"

"You're hopeless" She ruffled his hair as she'd always done and he growled in the way he'd always done too. They talked about nothing and everything while they finished their coffees and then Andy's phone pinged with a text from Miranda.

"You're twitterpated." Andy snorted but didn't look up. "Yup, that confirms it."

"I'm just updating her, dummy," Andy finally looked at him. "She also reminded me that I told Nigel I'd give him your number."

"Who's Nigel?"

"Nigel Kipling? Art Director of Runway Magazine?" She grinned as his mouth dropped open. "The guy who bought your clothes."

"What? That was Nigel Kipling?"

"Uhuh," Andy grinned as she watched his eyes light up. "I'll give him your number, then?"

"He's easy to look at, isn't he?"

"Not compared to my gal, no," Andy quipped, getting a guffaw from her friend in turn. "You're such a hound dog."

"Am not! But sure," he grinned. "Give him my number!" Andy immediately did so and grinned as she got a cheeky reply.

"I imagine you'll have a drinks invitation this week sometime."

"Well as long as it doesn't involve fire, I'll be alright," he groaned. "What am I going to wear!"

"Dougy," she laughed. "He made you a wardrobe. And there's probably more where that came from, if you need." Doug looked up at her with glee.

"Oh yeah! Well, what are you waiting for, come on Andy-Pandy? Let's go!"

-0-

Doug spent a week and a half in the bedroom Andy had designated for the twins before she finally got around to saying something. They were eating dinner in the Townhouse when she finally built up the courage.

"So." She glanced at Miranda who was sipping a glass of wine nonchalantly, then back at Doug. Evidently, she'd be making this announcement on her own, then.

"I already know what you're going to say," Doug nodded as he wiped his mouth. "You need me out."

"No," Andy chuckled, reaching across and squeezing his hand. "Quite the opposite, in fact."

"What?"

"Well," Andy shrugged. "For," she took a deep breath. "Whatever reason, the apartment belongs to me." Doug's eyes widened and looked at Miranda for a beat then back at her. "And I'd like to offer you a lease?"

"Andy, what?"

"Next year's fees are all up to date and," she shrugged. "I'll only charge you what it takes to upkeep the place for a year and otherwise everything else is taken care of. It'll still be a bit of an increase from what you were paying and it's further away but," she shrugged. "I mean, you can leave it as furnished or not as you like, except for my room, that stuff's coming with me, but otherwise -" She realised she was holding her breath. "What do you think?"

"I -" he glanced at Miranda. "As a finance guy, I need to ask you if that is even financially sound?"

"It is," Miranda muttered.

"I -"

"Andréa and I have a rather brilliant personal finance manager. I shall introduce him to you. He did say he'd like to take a step back soon, so perhaps things will naturally fall into place."

"Miranda -"

"This is how the world works, Douglas. Surely you know that by now."

"Well yes of course, but I -"

"I have in mind that you're having dinner with Nigel again, tomorrow?" she asked, in that way of hers that made Andy's stomach flip-flop around.

"How did you -" he swallowed. Andy grinned when he looked sideways at her. "Yes?"

"Why don't you discuss it with him? I happen to know that he is less than happy at his residence and that his lease will be up in a few months. Perhaps it will be serendipitous all around."

"Miranda."

"Douglas." When Miranda finally gave up the attitude and sat forward, Andy could only watch. Whatever was happening seemed to be happening without her and she was fine with that as long as it was what Doug wanted. "If it doesn't work out, then he is, by far, the one in the better position to simply get another place. The insurance will cover what little furniture you have to buy, though we will help if you wish -"

"No!"

Miranda held up her hands in surrender and poured herself a glass of water.

"Then what is the problem?"

"I -" His mouth opened and closed like a fish before he sat back. "I can see why she fell in love with you. You're impossible to deny."

Miranda sat up straighter.

"That's not why, at all."

Andy realised Doug had accidentally stumbled into danger and pulled Miranda back against her and kissed her cheek.

"He didn't mean it like that," she whispered.

"No," he sighed, having overheard. "I didn't. Not at all. I'm sorry."

Miranda hummed and finished off her water. She stood and turned to Andy. "I'm going to look at The Book," she kissed Andy's head and, as she walked behind him, squeezed Doug's shoulder as she went by. Despite the misstep, the two had become tentative friends in a short period of time. Doug's easy-going nature had won all three Priestly women over, four if you included Patricia who was currently asleep on his feet.

"Sorry," he winced.

"Don't be. You handled it fine. That was her apology. She likes you."

He snorted and finished off his beer and sat back.

"Andy, are you sure?" he asked.

"Are you?" Andy grinned. "Think you can take care of my place for a whole year without me needing to evict you?"

Doug snorted.

"What about Nigel?" he asked, quietly.

"You said yourself," Andy said gently. "For hours and hours after your first meeting, which turned into drinks, which turned into dinner, which turned into a whole-ass Broadway show." Doug laughed. "He is everything you've ever wanted. And you won't meet a nicer guy. He's loyal, kind, gentle, and fun. You'll not meet a more honest man; he won't string you along, Doug. If he wasn't interested, he'd tell you. And she said his lease isn't up for a while so see how it goes and float the idea in a while or," she shrugged. "Whenever. Or, don't," she reached over and squeezed his hand again. "You'll be able to afford the rent," she blushed. "Even though I haven't figured out what it actually is yet."

"I'll pay what I need to, you're right, I can afford it," he frowned. "Andy," Doug looked at her for a long time before he let a grin spread across his face. "You're playing in the big leagues baby! I mean, this is huge!"

"What do you mean I," she sniffed, remembering how effective the move was when Miranda used it. "She just got you an introduction with a finance manager in charge of millionaires."

"Oh shit," he gaped. "She was -"

"Oh yeah," Andy laughed. "She was definitely serious. You, um, might wanna get your resume sparkling."

"Oh my god."

Andy got up and pulled him out of his chair to hug him properly.

"Shall I walk you home?"

"Me? No, I'm going to call -" he stopped and looked guiltily up at her. She laughed and remembered something, absently.

"Nate said to me once, back," she frowned. "Way back. The calls you always take? That's who you're with." She glanced at him, feeling her face heating up. "He was wrong about a lot of things, but he was right about that."

Doug laughed and kissed her cheek, calling goodnight to the girls, who raced down the stairs to stereo hug their new favourite Uncle.

"Cass, we'll go biking this weekend, k? After we go climbing again."

"You betcha," she quipped, wrapping her arms around Doug and then accidentally backed into Andy as she let go. "Oof, Sorry Andy."

"Yeah yeah."

They waved goodbye and Andy walked with Caroline back up to the living room where Miranda was ensconced in her throne, wielding her red pen and Cassidy was busy tapping on her iPad.

"Darling, did you confirm with Jesse's people?"

"I did," Andy smiled. "And bought extra tickets to the zoo for Jordan, Doug and Nigel. Who doesn't know he's going to the zoo yet, but he will."

"Yes," Cassidy grinned. "Thanks Mom, thanks Andy."

"You're most welcome," Andy smiled.

"I'm gonna go play online with my friends. See ya tomorrow. Love you."

Cassidy ran off upstairs to join in on her friend's game, leaving Caroline curled up in Andy's arms.

"Not playing tonight, kiddo?"

"Nah," she muttered around a yawn.

"Are you alright?"

"Mhmm," she smiled, snuggling deeper into Andy's middle. "Just like it here."

"Me too," Andy smiled, looking up and catching Miranda's eyes. They flashed deep blue and Andy winked. "Me too."

-0-

That deep blue spark only got darker as they'd sat in the den, Caroline cuddled up on Andy's knee and Miranda's red pen shedding blood across the page. Despite the gentle evening, it culminated with Miranda peeling off her clothes as soon as she'd managed to shut the bedroom door behind them.

"I want you," Miranda muttered as she bit down on Andy's shoulder. "I cannot concentrate. I cannot think about anything without visions of you coming undone under my mouth. You torment me with that smile and the way you look at me."

"The way I look at you?" Andy giggled, though it turned into a gasp as Miranda slid her hand beneath the waistband of the jeans she was wearing. "Oh."

"The way you look at me, at every moment. With those big brown eyes."

Andy winced as Miranda got caught at an awkward angle and there was a touch of frustration in her movements as she ripped open the button.

"I can't help the way I look at you," Andy tried, not necessarily looking to derail what was happening only wanting to find an explanation for it.

"It's not that," Miranda said, yanking down the jeans and Andy's panties with them. "It's that I know what they look like as they roll back into your head." They did just that as Miranda pushed open her legs. "That I know what they look like when my tongue is in your quim."

"Jesus, fuck, Miranda" Andy gasped as Miranda did as she was threatened and slid her tongue over the length of Andy's sex.

"It's that I always want you here, beneath my fingers and my mouth. Nowhere else."

"I'm yours," Andy gasped as Miranda rolled her thumb around and around. "Miranda, I'm yours.

There was no more discussion about Andy's eyes as Miranda made love to her like a woman possessed. At first, she was stern, instructive even. And then, after Andy had come three times in ridiculously quick succession, Andy had managed to gather enough strength to turn the tables entirely.

In a long-forgotten TaeKwondo move, she managed to flip them over and sat astride Miranda's stomach, where she rocked slowly against her skin.

"I crave you at every moment of the day," Andy whispered, not as comfortable with sharing her deepest inner thoughts. "I want to scream it on every rooftop in New York that I am in love with Miranda Priestly," she looked down at her lover and saw those same blue eyes, so dark she might fall into them and never escape. "And that she is in love with me." Miranda groaned and reached up to cup Andy's breasts. Andy's rhythm faltered as her nipples were flicked but Miranda's hand moving to her ass helped find it again.

"Tell me," Miranda whispered, sensing Andy's need for quiet. "Tell me."

"I see you," she gasped as Miranda slid her perfect fingernails down her back. "I see you ruling your empire, in your pretty clothes." She blinked as she realised how hard Miranda's fingers were gripping her hip. Her words were working on Miranda, just as Miranda's had worked on her. "Those clothes that help you wield your power. And yet -" Andy moved between Mriadna's thighs and pressed their centers together. They groaned in sync. "And yet I know what you look like beneath them. I know what happens when I touch you. When I kiss you, when I press up against you. I see your blush and your skin quivering. I see you."

"Andréa -"

"I love you."

They made love, possessed, for hours until Miranda finally called a halt after Andy got a cramp in her hip and Miranda had almost fallen off the bed. Andy had been a bit nervous about asking to stop, but Miranda had seen the pain in her eyes almost immediately and in her rush to move, she missed the edge of the bed.

"God, I'm so sorry," Andy chuckled, pulling Miranda closer. She'd managed to grab her love at the last moment before she'd gone tumbling onto the floor. Miranda snorted and buried her face deeper into Andy's neck as their skin cooled in the night air. "Do you want to tell me what brought that on?"

"No," Miranda muttered, nipping Andy's neck.

"How am I going to repeat it if I don't know what I did," she asked cheekily.

Miranda leant up on her elbow and looked down at her. At one stage in their life, Andy would have felt like a bug, under a microscope, but this felt more like a flower, under the sunshine.

"You repeat it every single moment of our lives, Andréa. You and Caroline cuddling on the sofa tonight, while I worked and we listened to Cassidy playing with her friends. You, getting ready for bed and then, despite knowing that I burn for you, going to say goodnight to the children so that they know they are loved before they sleep." Andy blushed but didn't interrupt as Miranda started speaking again. "You, offering to give your place to your friends when you could play it safe and keep that option open."

"I don't need -"

"You moved around my kitchen like you've always been here, your hand on my back, or trailing across my shoulders. You touch me Andréa, from my skin to my soul and I," she sighed and dropped her head onto Andy's shoulder. "I have not had that in my life. And I crave it, like I need the air we breathe. It sets my soul alight."

"I will always touch you, Miranda. I always did break the rules."

Miranda snorted again and curled around Andy's longer frame with a sigh.

"What do you think the future will hold?" Andy whispered. "If the present is so utterly perfect."

She felt Miranda's smile on her skin, but she knew Miranda wouldn't answer. They'd get to the future, in the future, no doubt.